Everywhere, Essential, But Under-Appreciated:
Pumps Finally Get Their Day!
Leading manufacturer drives first global celebration of Pump Appreciation Day
April 10, 2012, Seneca Falls, NY—The world"s second most common machine (behind the electric motor) is finally getting its due, as ITT Goulds Pumps leads the inaugural observance of Pump Appreciation Day, a global celebration of pumps as the "Heart of Industry."
From chocolate made by the Hershey Company in Pennsylvania, to Corona beer brewed at Grupo Modelo in Mexico, to slurry pumps used to process diamonds in Africa, many of the world’s most familiar products are produced using pumps. The Pump Appreciation Day website has videos and fact sheets explaining how pumps move the raw materials and finished products that make modern life possible.
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Nearly 1,400 billion barrels of oil and 3,169 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year are extracted, refined and transported by pumps.
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Barrel pumps transport crude oil at 700 degrees centigrade, a fluid temperature as hot as the flame from a matchstick.
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Almost 70 percent of all fresh water used worldwide is pumped to irrigate land and grow food.
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Piston pumps move water as fast as 1,500 miles per hour, enough force to cut through solid metal.
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The $3.4 trillion chemical industry uses process pumps to make more than 70,000 products, including rubber, plastic and textiles.
Along with raising consumer awareness, ITT Goulds Pumps is driving an industry celebration with customer awards, employee events, and emails to thousands of people who use industrial pumps—including 11,000 who tested their pump knowledge in the World of Pumps Quiz—to take pride in the importance of their work.
"Pumps are literally the heart of industry. Without them, manufacturing ceases, food production stops, and life would not be what it is today," said Robert J. Pagano Jr., president of ITT Goulds Pumps. "That's why we are observing this first Pump Appreciation Day with a range of activities to celebrate pumps and raise awareness of their role in the world."
ITT Goulds Pumps also is donating $25,000 to the international Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Program, supported by the American Heart Association and its global partners. Along with the donation, ITT Goulds Pumps is encouraging all of its locations to commit time and resources to sponsoring CPR training and heart health fundraising events beyond April 10.
Other Pump Appreciation Day initiatives include:
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Pulse of Industry Honor Roll—Pump-industry workers are named to this new honor roll for such achievements as improving pump efficiency, providing outstanding maintenance, solving engineering or manufacturing challenges, or exceeding expectations to keep equipment running.
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Local events—ITT Goulds Pumps and its distributors will hold education and recognition events for customers and employees at locations worldwide.
"Pump Appreciation Day 2012 is just the beginning," Pagano said. "Over time, we want to raise awareness of the essential role of industrial pumps and the people who use them and keep them working, and we want people to understand the global significance of the ECC Program so they can be prepared in life-threatening situations. We've had a great response to this year's Pump Appreciation Day activities, and we're already looking forward to Pump Appreciation Day 2013."